Ford has previously invested $ 65 million in Desktop Metal and has now integrated its studio and production systems into the Michigan Advanced Engineering Institute.
Ford Motor plans to work with Desktop Metal to promote car production with 3D printing. The technology is used to accelerate prototyping, create manufacturing aids and fixtures, and manufacture production parts of a certain scale.
Desktop Metal Studio is an FFF / FDM-based system that uses metal-containing wires to produce component parts and then sinters them into dense metal parts.
The production system is an industrial machine using single-channel jet (SPJ) technology, which is an inkjet and powder-based 3D printing method for metals.
Ken Washington, vice president and chief technology officer of automotive research and senior engineering, said that innovation is the DNA of Ford, and they prototyped many concepts in virtual and physical spaces.
"We see the possibility of creating the factory of the future, and 3D printing is an integral part of it. We are excited to partner with Desktop Metal as this opens up the possibility of achieving this scale at Ford."